Virginia Signs Natural Gas Agreement With Clean Energy

Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) signed an agreement with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. to allow state and local entities to buy compressed natural gas from Clean Energy for their vehicle fleets.

Government bodies will be able to access special pricing for CNG fuel and services via the state’s procurement website, Clean Energy said in a statement.

Clean Energy said it will build CNG fueling stations and provide vehicle conversions for state and local Virginia governments seeking to use natural gas as a transportation fuel.

“Not only is this good for the government and the environment, but ultimately, it will be good for consumers and the economy as well,” said McDonnell, who signed the agreement Tuesday in Richmond, Va.

“The infrastructure created through this effort will be available to fuel passenger vehicles and other commercial fleets . . . [and] reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” he said in a statement.

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Polar Tank Trailer, IAM reach agreement on five-year labour contract

ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Polar Tank Trailer and the International Associations of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union have reached an agreement on a new five-year labour contract.

The agreement was ratified Tuesday through a majority vote by IAM members at Polar's manufacturing facility in Opole, Minn.

IAM District 165, Local 623, represents approximately 365 employees at Opole.

The new contract, which includes the addition of a third and fourth shift, replaces the three-year agreement that expired on Nov. 30.

"The committee worked hard to negotiate an agreement that will benefit our employees and our business," said Ted Fick, CEO of Polar Corp. "It's another step forward in our efforts to meet the quality, cost, and delivery expectations of our customers."

Last year, employees at the company's Holdingford, Minn. and Springfield, Mo. facilities each ratified a five-year labour agreement negotiated by Polar and the IAM.

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